The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-29
SHARP AT DEATHS DOOR.
FEARS THAT HE WILL DROP DEAD
IN THE COURT ROOM.

His Lawyers to Make an Effort to
Have Judge Barrett Stop the Trial
Where it is - Physicians of the
Opinion That the Prisoner Cannot
Live Longer Than Two Weeks.
NEW YORK, June 28.-Thirty-two days
of trial such as Jacob Sharp has under
gone in the very heat of the summer at his
time of life is an ordeal that cannot be
safely passed. Yet has this old man with
all his manifold physical ailments borne
up bravely under it. He was no weaker
than usual when he came into conrt this
morning, nor did he appear to be any bet
ter than usual, though he said to a reporter
that the effect of DR.. Loomis' prescription of
| yesterday was to make him sleep better than
he had at any time since his commitment
TO Jail. DR.. Dayton, of the Senate clerical
| force was ready to testify with reference to
| the general surface railroad bill of 1888.
A BID FOR THE FRANCHISE.
John M. Scribner, of the law firm of Rob
inson, Scribner & Bright, Sharps legal adj
visers, was placed upon the stand, but his
testimony presented no strong point.
Abraham M. Earl, Secretary of the New
| York Gable Railroad Company, let out in
cross examination that President Andrews,
of his company, did make an offer to Mayor
| Edison to pay 81 100000 into the city treas
ury for the Broadway franchise.
Sharp's testimony as q whole before the
Senate investigating committee was read.
A SURPRISE.
Quite Unexpectedly at this point Mr.. Par
sons said that the defense had only three
! more witnesses to examine, George Bliss
and John Mcmahon and julius Heidman,
A,..x. II H. IA A
we have examined these witnesses the de-
fense will have concluded its casen
Mr.. Bliss then took the witness chair. He
related how he had been sat upon by the
investigating committee when he attempted
TO demand fair play for Sharp. The un-
fairness consisted in not permitting Sharp
| TO accompany his answers with explana~
tions. AT 2:30 o'clock the defense rested
their case and Judge Barrett adjourned the
court till tomorrow when the summing UP
will begin
SHARP DYING.
The Mail and Express in its extra edition
at o'clock tonight says;
| 1t is believed that Jake Sharp is dying
| His physicians and lawyers say his condition
is very critical. His defense ended In a
fiasco at $3.50 o'clock this afternoon. Every
one was surprised at the sudden turn in af-
fairs. At the beginning of the trial IL was
|
/ stand in his own defense He explained to
his counsel how he would answer and ex-
| plain all seeming deficiencies in his exami-
| nation before the Senate committee. He
went SO far as TO avow he would rather be
| convicted than permit the statements of the
witnesses for the prosecution to go uncon-
tradicted by him.
WRITING HIS STATEMENT.
Everything was arranged that Sharp
should testify. From the beginning Of the
trial until the night that Judge Barrett or
dered his committal TO Ludlow street jail
Sharp spent several hours every day after
the adjournment of court in perfecting the
statement which he would make 10 the jury.
| From the time he was confined in jail he
has failed and yesterday afternoon when
his counsel told him to prepare TO take the
stand they found to their horror that Sharp
was a physical wreck, and that even
mentally he was not in fit condition to be
witness Ii is the opinion of Sharp's physi-
j clans that he cannot live longer than ten
days or two weeks. The slightest excite
ment will cause death, owing to the condi-
| ton of his heart. In the next few days his
business affairs will be wound up.
sTRYING TO STOP THE TRIAL.
A scheme is under consideration by those
| interested in Sharp's case which, IL carried
| out successfully, will take the case out OF
the jurisdiction of the jury tomorrow
before the lawyers have a chance to display
their powers of oratory in summing up.
| It has been suggested that certificates
| from such eminent physicians as Prof.
| Loomis and his associates that Sharp would
in all probability drop dead in the court
room when the jury brought in their YER
dict If the case should be given them,
no matter whether the verdict be guilty or
not guilty, would result in Judge Barretts
stopping the trial just where it is. In any
| event, his advocates are sincerely of the
opinion, after listening TO the advice of the
doctors, that Sharp will never live to go to
Sing Sing. Sheriff Grant was so fearful
this afternoon that Sharp would die in Lud-
| low street Jail that he kept him in his pri-
vate office for two hours after the court had
adjourned.